The Italian Centre is an icon of the Italian community and is hired for special functions…read more I was fortunate to attend a wedding reception there and discovered that they now utilise the catering firm Blanco who have their own outstanding reputation for food and service. All waiting staff are clearly identified as Blanco and were busy yet very pleasant with their service. Nice to see a security guard in the foyer too. Beautiful setting for a wedding indeed.

The hub of Estonian activity in Adelaide and a beautiful hall with old-time, offbeat charm for…read morehire. The slightly sprawling brick building looks like it's been added on to and added on to. But that's not a worry, there are only two main bits you can rent: a large auditorium seating up to 300 people and a 14m x 9m room upstairs. Dust off your boogieing shoes because the auditorium has a purpose-built timber dance floor that's waiting for you to light it up on once you've had a few drinks. High ceilings with arched windows provide plenty of natural light during the day. There's a stage. And a serving area with kitchen behind. Ample angled street parking in front of side entrances means less carrying stuff while setting up. I'd say she can accommodate some pretty full blown productions. *Tables and chairs available. Some events at the hall are reoccurring and open to the public. Off the top of my head there's: the Swing Sesh social dancing, Riot City amateur wrestling, the North Adelaide Vintage Fair and an Estonian gathering (open to all with a connection to the Estonian community, Fridays from midday). The enclosed parking lot is handy for outdoor events. Three rundown motel rooms and a dilapidated outdoor kitchen (all part of the Estonian Hall) front the parking lot. Trees provide shade, but also grow up through the tarmac creating a twisty mess of roots at the head of parking spots. These things only add character. An aside: A few months ago there was a news story on the Project about a silhouette of Jesus in chipped paint on the wall of a Warrnambool pub. Well I didn't tell anyone, but an identical silhouette appeared around the same time on the side of the Estonian House. It's gone now. Now it just looks like Bugs Bunny. Backpackers: It's a safe spot close to town to park a Wicked van or similar. There's the safety of a suburban street, except it's less awkward because you're not parked directly in front of someone's house. Frowned upon by the council, but people do it anyway.

Grainger Studio was originally The West's Cinema and was built in 1939. It now plays host to The…read moreAdelaide Symphony Orchestra. The grand foyer is one of the most spectacular examples of interior architecture I have seen in Adelaide. I was here for a wedding once when I was much younger, I sadly don't remember much more than that it is a beautiful building and very up market indeed. It's so beautiful inside, I find it hard to describe. I unfortunately don't have much a of vocabulary when it comes to interior architecture.

Sfera's on the park. Suites and convention centre. Great…read morelocation directly across frm a park then Tea Tree Plaza in Modbury. $165.00 a night. Melbourne and Adelaide people might think that is a high price. They have obviously never booked accommodation in Perth. The mining boom is done and dusted, everything in Perth is way over priced. For a princely sum of $109 in Perth you can get a disgusting room at the old Forumula 1 hotel now called Ibis budget. The Sfera's suite and convention centre totally blitz this. My Queen size bedroom had room to boot for a single bed for my son. It also contains a beautiful shower and separate spa bath. Wow. Just can't believe the value. You can't get the same anywhere in Perth. Value for money. Yes it's a little bit out of the city but you know what I truly dont mind the inconvenience at all. So to all the motel owners in WA lift your game. If you are going to charge exorbitant prices make sure it's value for money. Get your heads out of the 70's and 80's motel styles and update your motels and get your pricing right instead of being. " Oh we don't care there is no other place for people to go". Take a leaf out of Sfera's book and give the people what they want. Great rooms good pricing and we can do attitude. Great work Sfera's will stay here again anytime.

I really liked staying at this place. I spent a few nights there last year, and was quite happy…read morewith it. If you don't mind not being in town, this is a really good place to stay. They've got a really good room service (best wedges I've had in a hotel), the rooms are nice, the staff are lovely, and when there's a function on, it doesn't really interfere with your relaxation if you're not involved. I liked it a lot, and whenever I'm in Adelaide, I make it a point to try and book a room here in preference to some other very big names. The cafe is also pretty good. Have a look.

Cummins House at Novar Gardens is one of Adelaide's most beautiful historic houses. The house…read moreitself was built in 1842 by one of the colony's early settlers, Sir John Morphett. It was the Morphett family home for many years until 1977 when it was put up for auction but thankfully ownership passed to the state government. The house and gardens are now open to the public twice a month to enjoy at their leisure. The house began life as a small brick cottage of just five rooms but grew over the years to become the grand residence we see today. You can tour the house and see some of the rooms still complete with their original furnishings. The servants quarters make for a fascinating look and a reminder of the 'upstairs downstairs' mentality that existed in early South Australian life with the well to do. A visit to Cummins House is not complete without a look through the lovingly tended gardens that surround the house. Interestingly these gardens are looked after by a team of volunteers. Cummins House is a popular venue for weddings in Adelaide with both the house and gardens available for hire. The house operates on restricted open hours and is only open on the first and third Sunday of the month between 2 and 4.30pm. Other opening times can be arranged for groups or people interested in using the venue for functions.

Beautifully historic house, anyone interested in early South Australian history should definitely…read moregive this a look. They do Devonshire tea on the first and third Sunday of each month and you can combine this with a tour of the house and its surrounds for very little extra ( from memory, I think the Devonshire tea was $10 per person and the tour was $12 per person). The Society who look after the house have obviously devoted a lot of time to its upkeep and studying its history as well as that of the Morphett family who originally lived there. The tour is quite detailed - be prepared to receive a lot of information!

You wouldn't know it by the name, but this place is all class. Just look at the website!…read more This is a 'Rum and Members Bar'. It reportedly has the world's largest collection of fine rums. Admittedly, this is a fact I can't be sure of. I haven't been everywhere else in the world, y'see. I CAN, however, tell you that I DID try a veritable array of rum, and all of it was fine. Bear in mind, I've always been a vodka man. All other spirits are second-rate to me. (Except the green fairy, but I don't really consider THAT a spirit. It's more a monster unto itself.) But this is some good rum. The decor is great, and not at all cheap or tacky (as you'd expect from a members club), and the music complements the decorating perfectly. Though I'm not typically a fan of rum, if you've friends who love the stuff, bring them here (or be dragged along), and you'll have a gay old time. If you can claim a lounge for your own, many a deep, philosophical and ultimately meaningless conversation will be had before the night is done.

Upstairs from the Union Hotel, Bar Cuba is subtly signposted and only open late. Everyone wants to…read morefeel special and this is a members only scene, on the positive it's not super hard to become a member. At the risk of sounding like a simpleton this bar is so purrrrdy. Lots of luxe fabric and billowing curtains and velvet and chocolate ottomans. Rum is the thing at Bar Cuba (Surprise!) and though I'm not a huge fan of rum usually, they make delicious cocktails and as the saying goes, when in Cuba... The music is a mix of soul funk and jazz and the people lounging around may appear casual but their dress certainly is not. This place is booked for functions a fair way ahead so if you want to have a party here you've got to be organised. And here's a hot tip: having your gig here is not a cheap venture. If you don't have the cash you can always do as we've done in the past and gate crash more wealthy people's parties. You didn't read this but... we may have snuck in on occasion. Or better yet, subtly convince your friends to have functions here so you can attend. Yeah... do that.

I have been to countless special occasions celebrated at JDF and all have been executed perfectly…read more The venue has two different halls, one large and one for smaller functions both rooms can be used quite easily as they are. However, the neutral colour tones also allow you to really dress up and play with this space to suit your event! The food has a strong Italian influence, it is always delicious and they have huge servings so I can't imagine anyone EVER leaving hungry! The staff are helpful and events seem to always go on without a hitch!

I don't think I have ever been to a Skippy celebration here, nor ever will I be, but these guys…read moreknow their market and they cater to it damn well. From an all Italian inspired, yet limited, menu I have only ever had the giant sized cannelloni or king prawn (that's just the starters), the beef/chicken main and a bring your own cake dessert here - but I think that's all that is on offer. The food is very well flavoured and cooked as they couldn't get away with doing anything lesser quality for all those nonna's in the audience of their grandchild's 18th birthday. From two 21st's an 80th, a christening and a wedding I think I now know this venue and their stock standard party agenda back to front. It's a simple and predictable space that provides consistently good food, great facilities, plenty of booze (bottles on the table no less) and has just renovated it's smaller function venue to be more spacious and with a nicer reception/entrance area. Needless to say I think it's mandatory if you are of Italian descent you have to have at least one significant celebration here in your lifetime for 100-200 people.

What a stunning location. Al-Ru Farm is absolutely beautiful, nestled in the tranquility of One…read moreTree Hill. I attended a wedding ceremony held in the gardens here, and the staff were extremely discreet and had prepared everything perfectly for the bride and groom's needs. The gardens are beautiful, full of flowers and edible plants, the buildings are all stately old structures, the toilets are easy to find and also discreet. We were joined during the ceremony by some friendly chickens who wandered up to pay their respects to the happy couple, and later, as the photographer was doing her thing, a huge, friendly St. Bernard dog lumbered up to us, attracting the delight and cuddles of the few children present. Overall, Al-Ru Farm is a lovely spot, and a very well kept secret, I think. If you're looking for a function venue or want to take advantage of their B&B, I really think you'd be very satisfied with the whole place.